BLAGDEN, George

Served 6½ years with the York & Lancs and fought in South Africa in the Boer War. Then in WW1; enlisted 3/12/195 in Canadian Infantry, 144 Bn Winnipeg Rifles; Pte 829602. He arrived in England aboard the S.S. Olympic on 25/9/1916 and promoted A/Sgt at Witley Camp, Surrey. 15/11/1916 he was suffering badly from Myalgia and was recommended 6 weeks Physical Training! On 9/1/1917 he was sent back from England to Canada on leave, and never returned, so was classified as a ‘deserter’ on 3/3/1917, but this was later rescinded as he had been retained in Canada and discharged on compassionate grounds on 25/4/1917.